Age Pryor - Single Review: Burning Sun

15 Nov 2018 // A review by Janise Kumar

Having built a steady portfolio of compositions since the turn of this century, Age Pryor (Fly My Pretties, The Woolshed Sessions, Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra) has inconspicuously become a pillar amongst New Zealand’s finest artists. And in the same understated way his career has unfolded so far, his new single Burning Sun retains the unassuming charm and placidity of his sound.

Featuring the vocals of Wellington-based singer-songwriter Deanne Krieg, Burning Sun basks in its gentle, indie-alternative joy. Krieg is the perfect symmetry to Pryor’s grounded vocals - a seamless match in harmonic bliss. While it’s called Burning Sun, the song is in fact a much more tender balance between warmth and cool breeze.

With the chorus singing ‘we’re not scared to try’ the song instils a hopefulness as you listen. It’s a nomadic song that looks toward the endless wonders and possibilities in the journey ahead. Pryor wrote Burning Sun while touring the US with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, inspired by the roads and landscapes that enveloped him along the long drives between shows. In fact, the single’s music video, directed by Pryor, composites his own phone footage of these journeys.

The song has a longer run at almost 6 minutes in length, which on my first few listens had me feeling like there wasn’t enough of a narrative or dynamics to warrant this duration. However, the more I listened and relaxed with it, the more it all seemed to fit. The subtle build-in of the guitar in the second half is the flickering sunlight that filters through between wavering branches of leaves and breaks the coolness of the casting shadow.

About Age Pryor

Age Pryor is a Wellington multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who recently released the groove/funk/rock/reggae influenced City Chorus.

The tracks on City Chorus are sophisticated and beautifully crafted with an undeniable pop sensibility. These are rich and chilled out sounds, thoughtfully produced.

The album includes seven vocal songs, including the heartfelt single The Best For You, and four instrumentals, including two moody interludes and a stonking 9-minute funk-dub jam entitled Barefoot Breakitdown.

Releases

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